Sampling device for use in the weighing of cigarettes



C. BEST Jul 1, 1952 SAMPLI NG DEVICE FOR USE IN THE WEIGHING OF CIGARETTES Filed Aug. 25, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet l July 1, 1952 c. BEST 2,601,786

SAMPLING DEVICE FOR USE IN THE WEIGHING OF CIGARETTES Filed Aug. 25, 1948 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,MY-W

Julyl, 1952 c. BEST 2,601,736

SAMPLING DEVICE FOR USE IN THE, WEIGHING OF CIGARETTES Filed Aug. 25, 1948 "r Sheets-Sheet a July 1, 1952 c. BEST 2,601,786

SAMPLING DEVICE FOR USE IN THE WEIGHING OF CI GARETTES Filed Aug. 25, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 SAMPLING DEVICE FOR USE IN THE} WEIGHING' OF CIGARETTES Filed Aug. 25/ 1948 C. BEST July 1, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 C. BEST July 1, 1952 SAMPLING DEVICE FOR USE IN THE WEIGHING OF CIGARETTES '7 sheets-sheet 6 Filed Aug. 25, 1948 Cyril Best I/YVE/VTOR 00am, M. Lima/P Mair m.

July 1, 1952 c. BEST 2,601,786

SAMPLING DEVICEYFOR USE IN THE] WEIGHING OF CIGARETTES Filed Aug. 25, 1348 I 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOI? wan/1, ca'ea G m'mdzia QITornQI-IS slighter differences.

Patented July 1, 1952 S PAT E N M 2,601,785"; I I V SAMPLING DEVICE FOR USE IN THE.

2,601,786 OFFICE WEIGHING OF CIGARETTES Cyril Best, London, England, assignor to 'Molins Machine Company Limited, London; England,

a'British company Application August 23.1948"; Serial No. 45,773 i ,In Great Britain" September 2, 1947 This invention concerns improvements in or H more'particularly to an improved apparatus for automatically controlling the tobacco feed of a.

relating to cigarette making machines and refers 4 Claims. (01.73 423) cigarette making machine so as to ensure that r,

cigarettes of consistent weight are produced.

The apparatus herein described is of the geri- 53 erally well known type comprising a, weighing mechanism, detector means co-operating with the weigh beam thereof and movable in proportion to the amount of deflection of the weigh beam and means operatively connected to the detector- 4 means to regulate the tobacco-feeding mechanism proportionately to the movement of the detector means. r

In order that thetobac'co feeding mechanism may be regulated much more closely than has hitherto been the practice individual cigarettes selected periodically from the output of the machine 'are'weighedand regulation is effected in an improved manner, in accordance with the variation in weight of such cigarettes from the nominal weight of the cigarettes being produced. With the apparatus described later it is possible to effect about eightyaccurate' weighin'gs per minute and where a cigarette differs from the nominal weight an electric circuit isestablished whereby regulation of the tobacco feed is effected in about half a second.- In the construction dedifferences in Weight but it can be. donexfor These eifects are. achieved by refinements in the weighing mechanism and the switch gearof the circuit and the employ- .scribed regulation is only effected for excessive ment of a reversible electric motor which incigarettes for weighing are; positively controlled throughout the whole of the operation to avoid any injury to them; I 2

Manually controlled adjustment-of the regulating shaft may be effected through the motor by operating it at the'higher voltage since manual adjustment is only resorted to for comparatively coarse adjustments.

Cigarettes may be fed to the apparatusby a rotatable drum provided, with suction cr mechanical devices to hold cigarettes around its periphery and embodying means whereby cigarettes to be weighed are removed therefrom, at

.in section.

a position from which they can pass to the weighing apparatus' while the remainder are delivered directly to the catcher band of the machine. Where a suction drum is used means may be provided for varying the suction so that for example where it-receives cigarettes the suction may be stronger than at other positions.

Change gearing maybe employed in the driving mechanism of the drum so that the proportion of cigarettes weighed to total output may be varied. I

One way of carrying the invention into effect will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 7 v i v Figure 1 is a side elevation of the essential parts of the apparatus, partly in section and with -a support frame broken away toshow hidden :Ilooking in the direction of the arrow A.

. "Figure 3 is an end view of part of Figure 1,

looking in the direction of the arrow B.

Figure 4 is a small scale view of a typical cigarette making machine to which the invention is applied.

Figure 5 is a diagram of the electrical connections of the apparatus.

Figure 6 is a front elevation, partly in section of a suction drum used with the apparatus.

:Figure 7 is a side elevation of Figure 6 partly Figure 8 isa timing diagram.

, Figure 9 is a fragment of Figure2, showing certain partsmore clearly.

' Figure 10 is ,a perspective diagram showing how :parts'inFigure.9cooperate.

Figure 11, is an enlarged view of certain parts showninFigure 1.

Figure 12 is a view of Figure 11 looking in the direction of the arrow C.

Figure 13 is an enlarged view of'certain parts shown in Figure 1. i

- Figure 14'is a perspective view showing one part of-Figure .13.

Figure 15 isa view, partly in section, of a fragment of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrow D.

=..Referring to Figures 1 to 3, all the parts of the apparatus are supported, directly or indirectly,

.ona support frame 200. Cigarettes l, which are produced by the machine shown in Figure 4, are swept from a conveyor belt 2 forming a part of said machine, by blades 3 on a deflector wheel 4 and delivered between feeler arms 5 which test thesoftness of the ends in a well known manner and after passing around with said'arms the cigarettesare delivered to a suction drum 6 provided with a stripping device described below .whereby ,certain cigarettes are selected for catcher band 1. 1

I In the example being weighing, the others being discharged onto a described the cigarettes v produced by the machine are so manipulated that, one out at every sixteen produced is weighed.

for each cigarette selected, the remainderabeingf discharged directly on to the catcher'band of the machine. At each side of the drum there is pivoted a downwardly depending stripper plate e also Fig e 11 h w pla s e n fixed together-a id. operated by a cam I0 so that most of the time occupied by the. two revolutions oi-the suction drum the lowerends l; i oi thestripper plates which constitute operaive es. ev out de the per phe y, f dru and r p the. ci ret e f om drumr ut wh a o are te s o be w s edi hs plate ove in a itt e-and. t e c ar tte nstea tei s. s r ppe t tail o heea he band c ntin esto nov upwards with the drum until it is strippedithererom b the upper su aces; 12; o he pla These areso shanedthat; the Qigaretieis ently p d a l s, as. mqreexactly described laterwithreference to. Fi urelt, on to a vo plate. 13. which. leads, it, to the pan i4, oi-theweighing mac ne. The pan consists-merely of,.;tw

V-shaped supports suitably spaced to support-.a

cigarette lengthwise ina satisfactory manner.

The weighing apparatusFigure 3 isoiknown .kindand consists of aweigh beam. I5. suspended of steps on each side edges Pivoted feelers 20,

mounted on pivots 2-1 onevfor each series of steps are provided and these are provided witniknife edges and arranged to engagewith the deflection plate when the beam has reached-equilibriumin aweighing operation. If: the cigarette is of correct weight the top of the plate ishoi izontal and both'feelers engage the top. This condition. is

shown in the drawings. "Ifacig'aretteislight one ieeler. engages the top and. the other engages one of the steps. Two steps are provided at each side namely, light andlextra light, L, and respectively, on one side of the plate andlheavy and extraheavy, HandlEH respectively, on the other side. In addition the lightfside of the plate has a third step, NC for no cigarette which comes into contact with the corresponding .ieel'erwhen the beam has an abnormal tilt because there is not a cigarette: in the pan, The feelersmoveinto contact with the plate a'i-ter-the beam has d'efiect- 'ed in; weighing and reached equilibrium, or nearly,

and'iisual-ly the beam has become stationary-before'the afeelers touch it but in any casethe beam pmeeca iy in its final position and is steadied and held by the feelers. The feelers remain in this position and the beamis held until a ;cig arette iorthe next weighing is to be delivered-to thepan, which eventoccurs almostsimultaneously-witli the removal of the one in the pa M feelers are liftedby pins 22 attached'to-a l'e ver 23=pivoted-at 24amraised by a cam 25' which en- The ga ges a roller lfi; on the leveriiand for convenience the cam in question, though it also performs another function will be termed the feeler cam. This cam. is driven by gearing described below 'so that it-revolves once for every two revolutions of ,thesuctionv drum. As soon as the feelers are lifted from: theldefiection plate the beam is releasedanclfweighing commences. The beam is held for about aquarter of the revolution of the .cam and the remainder of the cam movement is devoted to weighing so as to give as long a time switches mi edbx the...-f eel.er nosiizieni a.

as. possible for this.

99 to iori rifahisatet support, an o s pivot there, is f ned a. lever 23V to .whichthe aforesaid link is attached. Thelower end of the link ZG has a long. slot 29" t and-a pinan fixed to, the

lei/c1 23 is pivoted in a block 31. movable in the link-slothlktht d anspg ri ,32.-s.o thatnormal y tmQ es th rewii th -in bs-- ventQLai mth springs allow the block to move .in.the.slo.t. .and prevent. damagetto the parts The feel ,otgzl are-atabo it equal dis,- neesle feit er-sida a hs. elaoet n which h weight. beam s lngs, d each feeler has a hub a l1k Shr ne I 3 i: e T e 3 s ormed it i step 4 see; al o} i ur 0. aawith the e ges f. a iametr maxie lhuwe. T u th r e -hifitr'mw e he u dueflto, the, torsionsp ngs but, the-degree of possiblQmovemont; by the steps. To each torsion. spring. when the feat? cam, allows the feelers tomove 'ltiese rods hrnay be. oiinsulatineimat ad pted 9.$;eleotrioal new; b zeigpl. d It. .be-obse ved; that the f e nd of a dadi e a qci, occuniesa erts. nositien deterlander .0 mal circumstances will be in onept three po ons indicated by.- chain lines inflame 1; acco d-ins to the b e. de lection.plateaen ag bbv he ieeler.

Beneatheaclm such position is-mounted smzi-ng switch 38, 39, 40, 4|, 42, 43 respectively and h switehes (six: in all) are-.,mounted on insulating blocks 44 fixedoto asupport =bracket,.:-li44,.tvhi cgh is pivoted .at- 45.:and periodically operated; by; atam 46 l (the. switch scam), fixed; on. thenfeelercam spindle l I to press the switches-against the. rods- The-switchcam engagesa rollenfliona cam; lever It -pivoted lat:24tandsthagtree end of'tthei lever- 1 is connected by a 7 link: 4491 to. anarm. 50: proieoting from thesupport I44. When the support is raised by the camv 4 6.1. the .:partic.ul ar switches closed-by the .IOdSl'LmAkGiaE electriccircuit and this causes 4 regulation ofwthe tobacco teed ;to. :be

effect as. 4 described at: the end of the speciflca 'wh-ich alsoengages-1a. gear wheel: 5 Mfixed :to .the

spindle 550i the suctiondrum and an idler gear wheel 56.- The latter engages a large gear wheel 51 fixed to the spindle 58 about which the feelers 5 rotate and on this spindle is fixed a small gear wheel 59. The wheel 59 engages an idler gear wheel 60 whose axis can be moved in a slot Iil concentric with the axis of the gear wheel 59. The idler gear wheel engages a smaller gear wheel '62- fixed to the spindle 'II of the feeler and switch cams 25 and 46 which spindle also carries anothercam 10, described below, which controls movements of the stripper 9 and thereby the number of cigarettes selected for weighing. All the spindles just referred to are journaled in the frame 200. This last mentioned gear wheel can bechanged in order to vary the proportion 'of cigarettes selected for weighing. With the arrangement shown one cigarette is weighed from every sixteen produced. "Other suitable proportions are one in twenty -fourxby using-a gear wheel one and a half times as large asthe gear wheel 62 shown, or one in'thirty-two by using a gear wheel twice as large. The idler gear wheel 60 is shifted in the slot 6| to couple the gear wheel 59 with whatever size gear wheel is used at 62. i i

The stripper 9, shown more clearly in Figures 11 and 12, is operated byits cam Io through a three armed lever 63 which ispivoted attdat the end of one arm and has acam roller 65 at the end of the second arm and a springpressed pawl 66 pivoted at 61 on the endof the third. A. spring 68 urges the pawl outwards from the three armed lever subject to a stop (not shown) which limits the amount of movement. When the earn I0, which is fixed to the spindle of the'suction drum 6 rotates, the roller 65 is held in contact with the cam (subject to control eflected through. the pawl as described below) by means of a spring 69 and thus the stripper is moved in and out at:.;the proper times. Astwo revolutions. of the suction drum take place for each stripper movement the pawl is arranged to control the operation of. the three armed lever to effect onetmovement of the stripper for each two revolutions of the cam in the following manner: i I s V Another cam which will be termed the stripper stop cam, is fixed on the same shaft II as the feeler cam. This stop cam engages a roller I5 on a lever I2 pivoted at 13 and provided with a downwardly depending rod or stop rod I4 adapted to engage the-tip of the'pawl 66 on the three armed lever 63. At each weighing operation, therefore, the stop cam'permits a spring 16 to actuate its lever to shift the rod sothat the three armed lever can move on its pivot and'allow the roller 65 to be moved by the spring 69 into engagement with the stripper cam I0. As however the stop rod is only shifted once for each two revolutions of the strippercam, cigarettes are ported for axial movement in the frame of the apparatusand moved by operation of a hand knob 18 to press under the influence of a spring 19, againstan abutment on the lever12-which carriesthe stop rodIH, and'when this" is done the stop rod 1431s held so as to engage the pawl see: the three armed lever so that all cigarettes are stripped at the lower part of the drum and fall on tothe catcher band. The knob is arranged for rotation and comprises a screw or a'cam to efiect axial movement of the startingrod, the rod being held in the inoperative position by the spring 19.

- A cigarette machine has several suction devices incorporated init and to economize in suction the drum 6 isspecially constructed as shown in Figures 6 and 7 so as to operate at a minimum. Thedrum, which is a hollow cylinder with one complete end face, as shown in Figure 7, is fixed on the spindle 55, so as to rotate on a fixed boss 82 whose diameter issubstantially that of the interior-of'the drum, with a trifiing clearance. At the position where the cigarettes are received by the drum the boss 82 which is perforated as shown by holes I82 and forms part of a duct 83 of the suction system, is cut away at 84 so as to expose-the whole of a set of the suction apertures 8,-which in the present construction comprise inner apertures 8 of a set are exposed to suction.

Thus strong suction is provided to ensure that cigarettes properly adhere to the drum and thereafter the weaker suction is sufficient to hold them tothe drum and allows them to be easily stripped.

-"In addition to the apertures the drum periphery has a tooth 81 in front of each set, considered in the direction of rotation, the tooth being substantially of the shape of a sprocket wheel tooth and; iorming'a shoulder in Which a cigarette can nes These teeth also serve to sweep cigarettes back along the catcher band 1 should the latter become overloaded through failure to remove cigarettes therefrom.

Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawings the cigarette machine is provided with a tobacco feeding apparatus IOI which showers tobacco on a travelling endless belt I02. The paper web I03 is drawn from a reel I04 over the various rollers shown, passing through a printer or the like I05 and finally over a small roller I06 which leads it on to an endless tape I01. The tobacco on the belt I02 is delivered on to the paper web I03 at the position occupied by the roller I06 and the tape I01 carries the loaded Web through the folders and other devices indicated by the reference I08 where the paper is wrapped around the tobacco core to form a continuous cigarette rod.

The edges of the paper are secured together by paste from a paster I09 whereafter the rod passes beneath a heater I I0 which dries the paste after which the rod is severed into separate cigarettes by a. cut-off H I. These'cigarettes pass on to an endless travelling tape, the aforementioned conveyor 2, which carries them to the deflector wheel 4 where the deflector blades move the cigarettes out of the rod line and deliver them to the mechanism previously described and which is diagrammatically indicated in Figure 4 at II3.

In order to vary the feed of tobacco to the belt I02, should the weights of the cigarettes produced by a chain II9 to. another sprocket: wheel I20; 1

This latter sprocket Whfi'iliSwfiXBdjflO ascr wed bush I2I so that rotation of the-wheelscrews the bush into or out of a.bearingbracket-IH: thus moving a slidable. cone. shaped. wheel I-Zdwhich forms part of a. variable drive. pullewand is;

splined to the main shaft I24 oizthecigarette machine. The other cone wheel; I25;.is..fixed. .on the main shaft I24 and between the cones-there are a number of segments I26 whichare-held together by springs. I2! so that asthehu-sh: 1.24.

moves in and. out, thepulley expandsor contracts. A belt I28' passes round the segments I26 and over a pulley I29 whichisrfixed ona shaft I39 and forms the driving shaft. for: the tobacco feeding apparatus IIlI. is interposed to take up slacklathe-beltebut this isv omitted from the. drawings.

The connections. for they motor I.-I5and the switches 36 to- 43 are shown in. Figurefi. The

motor '5 is compound wound having-artarmature, a series field. S. F. and-a shuntfieldfih. and is dynamically braked. AD. qvsupply at 8- volts is provided between the terminalsz'marked 8+ and and an. alternative D. 0.. supply;- at 24 volts is providedbetween the-terminalmarked 24+ and the negative. A- furthersupply-at 100 volts is available between the terminals marked lfifl-land the: negativeand" this supply istior operating electric counters-,one I31 forsshowing the total number. of cigarettes weighed andv five;

others I33, I39, I40; I62 and I43 for showing how the total is divided among extra-light, l-i ghhcorrect, heavy and extra-heavycigarettes. The-11M volt supply is used because commercially available counters operate at thisvoltage; A switch.

S is provided which is-closed whenathacigarette machine is running; at its proper speed..to-.ensure that regulation takes place only whenthe machine is in properroperation;

Themotor is-started and S'BQPWdJbYa'tWQ contactors CI and C2. and these-ineturnare energized through relays RL and RH whichihaiveathei-r coils energized when a switchSLc-rSI-Lrespec tively is closed.- These switches areimeeha-nica-lly coupledjto the appropriate-counters, assi-ndicated.

by the dotted arrows, and. arezinzfact integral parts of said counters. The-counters. I38 ,to.- I13 are actuated-when the switch-rods, 3.1 arecaused to :close two of .the switches 318. 1to 43:when.weiahing' takes. place.

closed, corresponding. tow the correct-wei hts as previously described in connection with F-Pl JireS 1 to 3. It will be seen-then: that currentilows from [00+ through.the-totaleeeunter I31; and.

through switches 40. and M- thuszalsooperating the correct counter. I40. the returngtozncgptive being through the-sw-itch'llli. Thateis allethat happens when a cigarette is otcorreet weight...

Supposing, however, that anextra-hrravymigwrette is weighed, the switch .SH- is; closed by thc operation of the. counter I43 -fol-1e.circuittbein from I99+ through counter I31, counter I43, switch. 43 to negative. AstheswitclrSis-alrcady closed the 24- volt supply is connected. through ieckcn pulley-- The switches are; indicated .in L Figure 5 and the middle, twow and-. 4 I are. shownv to one side of; theceilcf the relay; RH. .the othcr sideof the coil being, connectedv to. the negative; Theswitch-arms S and I46 of the relay move over tothe other. position and. thus there; is-.a connection for the coil of the-contaotor G25 from; 24+ through 5 and a. switch arm; 1.4 1 of; the relay Rhthrough: arm I46 to Gianni-thencethrough.the coil of.- ashuntfield .relmSFRtc-the: negative. Itheshunt fieldrelay closes: itszcontacts Iliaandethe shunt/field wind.- in iiscnergized. The. barsoi contactor C2-move up:anrhthezarmatureiandseries field OfthQ'mQt-QI L15 ares-supplied with. current. from the- 8. volt submit:thescircuitabeineqfrom 8+ through the :top banof the contactor'to the armature. and then to theiowen harroicontactor GI and the series -fie1dand. back vto;the:negative.

.As the: shunt. field-1 is. already. connected the motor-starts; as a;.comp.oundj motor and. moves .therregulatingshaftiflli Asthe-switch. rods; 3-]; i break contact. the. relay Biliiand contactorsGZiare.-de=energized andthe contactor hats.- move; back; tothes position shown. clean-fromv the: drawing the. armature. is

shortecircni-tedthrough the lower bars; of thetwo contactors and as the shunt field is still existin because. the. shuntxfreld relay. is slueeed. the mo ton instantly'stopped by dynamic braking,-

The; closing of. the. switches due. to-an. extraliehtz;cigarettecansesithemotor to start in the opposite. direction and: to. be thereafter braked exactly. aszdescrihediahove.

'Otherndetails ofsthe; apparatus :and. the-electricirllacircuit.will;bcdealtcwithinthe iollewi-ngdesermtiomoi thesoperationrofrthe apparatus.-

Whemthecigarette machine all the cigarettes:pmducedarearemoved. from; the. rod 7 catcherr-bandif itisnot desiredito-weighany of them...

The drum, this designed for high speed-working asdescribedtglcutiin setting-' up and adji-istingv the .apparatus by;- hand-the;- cigarette for. weighing 5 .--w-i.1-l,-not: alwaysmcveexactly in .thesmanner descsib drthahim it-zdoes notmovequiekly enough and for: thisvreason-that-tooth' of the drum fol- .lowmg ,the onewhichalways corresponds to. de-

. Efrem-for weighin fcomprisess a-ica-m surface 93 wlnehiensures thattthe: cigarette: to :becdelivered to etheepivoted plzate docs.--not: fall between the plate and the periphery ot theldrumextending between the: two neighboring teeth thereof. ,While;this. devices-is of vdoulotfiulutilityin fullspeed operationit; at anyrate, doesno harm..

If.- it is. desired to... commence weighing operationsthestartingrod 1-1. -is:.retracted.-by twisting ts.-,knob.-18 This.-allo,ws.-. the .three: armedlever 53 to; function:- and, as. determined by, the stop control Li-,ga-one cigarettev fromeaeh sixteen is .delivered tocthe pan "I hot. thezwe-igher. Such delivery is effected bythe movementofthe stripper as; previonslyg described. and. as -a. cigarette .tsstmpmdiorweig-hing by the surfaces. IZ of the :.stripn plates; 9A.:the p'ivotedplate. 1.3 isvmoved on its pivot from the chain-line position toward and slightly beyond'the full-lineposition, Figures 1 and 13,-and guides the cigarette into the pan I4. The lower end of the plate I3 is forked at 88; see Figures 3 and 13, and between the forked part there is arranged a pivoted control plate 89 which is pivoted at I85 and weighted at 90 so that movement of the control plate in the anti-clockwise direction lifts the weight. The pivots I85 are supported in side plates I86 which extend upward, as best'seen in Figure 13, toform stops at I81 to check clockwise movement of the plate 89 about its pivots. The side plates I86 are fixed at each side of a recess I88, Figure 3', formed in the bottomof a guide member. I89 which extends outward from the support frame 200. As a" cigarette is stripped from the drum 6 and received on the pivoted plate I3 it is checked by a fixed stop 9I which forms a V-shaped support with the pivoted plate I3 so that the cigarette is temporarily held at the right of the stop 9| in Figure 13. As the plate I3 moves down to deliver the cigarette into the pan I4 the cigarette slowly moves out of engagement with the stop 9| and moves overthe pivoted plate I3 into thepan I4. It should be noted that in'Figure 13 a cigarette is in the pan, so that the latter is in its lower position, and further, that the plate I3 in full-dines isalso nearly at its down position. When, however, the plate I3 rises toward the chain-line position-it removes the cigarette from the pan as described more fully in the next paragraph and so the pan rises and is thus ready to receivea cigarette as one rolls down the plate I3 as soonas it is free of the stop 9I. As the cigarette moves down the plate I3, as soon as it can pass-the stop 9|, it contacts with the righthand'side'of plate 89 and thus can swing the latter slightly on its pivots but the plate remains substantially in the position shown, under the influence of its weight and guides the cigarette supported on the plate I3 into the pan I4. The plate therefore functions as a resilient and gentle guide for the cigarette. In this way the cigarette is practically checked from any free movement and cannot be injured.

Assuming that a cigarette is already in the pan as one is being delivered thereto, which will be the case when the apparatus is in normal operation, the last portion of the upward movement of the pivoted plate I3 will lift said cigarette out of the pan an instant before it delivers the other to the pan. The lifted cigarette first contacts the bevelled side of the stop 9| and then rolls down the plate I3 and is held for a time by the projections 21 at the lower end thereof and then falls on to the catcher band 1 at the lowest position of the plate I3 as the plate I3 moves past plate 89.

A cigarette just about to be stripped from the projections 21 as the forks of the plate I3 move past the plate 89 is shown in Figure 13 as a circle resting between the projections-21 and the plate 89.

During all these movements the weigh beam I is held by the feelers and when a fresh cigarette is properly in the pan the feeler cam 25lifts the'feelers and allows the weigh-beam to take up a balanced position. While this is happening the pivoted plate I 3 moves down to its lowest position and discharges the cigarette supported in the projections 21 on to the catcher band.

Weighing takes place as aforesaid during about three quarters of a revolution of the feeler cam and then the cam permits the feelers to fall and hold the beam. The pivoted plate I3 starts to rise again towards the end of the weighing interval ready to repeat the operations described above.

" The movements can be followed from Figure 8 which shows the sequence of operations for an average setting of the apparatus and where I5H stands for beam I5 held, I3F-for plate I3 falling, I3R. for plate I3 rising, I3B for plate I3 dwelling at bottom. WI stands for weighing interval and SU for switch block up and SD for switch block down. I indicates the position where acigarette rolls from drum 6 on to the plate I3, II where said cigarette falls into pan I4 and III where the preceding weighed cigarette is stripped from the plate I3 by the control plate 89 and drops on to the catcher band 1.

As soon as the beam is held by the feelers the switch cam lifts the switch block, and such switches as are in alignment with the depending rods 31, of the feelers are pressed thereby. If the weight is correct both feelers will be on the top of the deflection plate and as the two corresponding switches 49 and M are in series a current flows and operates the total and correct counters as previously explained. If however the cigarette is 1 incorrect (e. g. light) one feeler rests on the top of the deflection plate and the otheronthe light step of the plate. There is no circuit through the switch on which the rod of the first said feeler is pressing but there is one through the light switch and a current fiows. This operates a light counter and also the total counter. A similar arrangement is provided for extra-light cigarettes, when of course one feeler rests on the extra-light step.. Moreover, the extra-light switch actuates the relay RL and the motor thereupon starts. Regulation of the tobacco feeding rate takes place until the lifting of the feelers for the next cycle of operations breaks the circuit and the motor is stopped by the opening of its contactor aided by dynamic braking. Similarly a heavy cigarette causes the recording of a heavy weighing and the operation of the total counter and an extra-heavy cigarette causes the operation of an extra-heavy counter and total counter and also the movement of the motor in the opposite direction through the other coil of thecontactor. It will be noted that regulation of the feed takes place for a constant time and is determined by the part of the feeler cam which allows the feelers to rest on the deflection plate.

When as referred to above a cigarette which should be weighed has been rejected. by the feeling arms and no cigarette is forthcoming, the tilt of the beam is such as to cause one feeler to drop on to the third step on the light side of the deflection plate, and this excessive movement causes the corresponding depending rod to move beyond the switches, so no electric contacts are made and neither recording nor regulating of any kind take place.

It sometimes happens that an extremely light cigarette is produced e. g. before the machine has reached its normal performance or for some particular reason, and this would cause the beam to. tilt so far that it would allow a feeler to move on to the no cigarette step of the deflection plate. To prevent this a rider 92, Figures 3 and 15, is supported in the frame of the apparatus and lifted when such an abnormal tilt occurs. The rider is a small rectangular loop and is supported on two hooks I90 so arranged that a part of the weighbeam I5 can pass between the hooks and lift-theloop. The weight of the rider plus'the weight of the cigarette is sufficient to secure a recording or an extremely Jightcigarette and the consequent regulation of the tobacco feed. If however, :a cigarette is entirely missing,v the weight of the rider alone is not sufficient tocheck the beam movement to such an extent that 'a feeler rests on the extra-light step instead :of the no 1 cigarette step.

:It :customary to provide manual control :for theireg ulating :sha'ft andinthis case it consists. of

'a-sw-itch. 08, Figure v5. The switch has two arms, onerfor shii'ting the motor voltageto '24 voltsand another coupled tail; for directing the current througheither .contactor ztosecure the desired direction of rota-tion'whichcan be ,turned'to start the motor in either direction. As manualycontrol is comparatively coarse the voltageapplied to the .motor is higher than for automatic control- (e-g. .24- volts as against 8 volts) andthe motor runs much faster.

What I claim as myinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for use with cigarette .machinesionweighing separate cigarettes, the combination with a rotatable drum having .:a peripheral portion 'formed to receive cigarettes in spaced relation with the -1cigarette axes parallel to; the axis of said drum, of means-delivering cigarettes to the peripheral portion of gsaiddrum,

a stripper pivotally supported -for displacement from :an inoperative position to an operative .position to engage and strip icigarettesrirom said drum, means yieldahly urging said stripper toward itsinoperative :position, a cam, means rotatingv said cam :in timed relation with said drum, :a :follower engaging said cam and con netted :to'saidrstripper to displace the latter :into itszoperative position,:a stop-supported for move-'- ment into. and :out of blocking relation with 'said follower and stripper to prevent movement of the latter to'inoperative position, means driven in timed relation withsaid. drum to move said stop into blocking relation for preventing displacement of .said: stripper to the inoperative position except during predetermined cycles of rotation of said drum, and asecond stripper positioned adjacent said drum and behind said first stripper to engage and strip from said drum cigarettes :not stripped by said first stripper.

'2; Inapparatus for use with cigarette machines for weighing separate cigaretteathe combination with a rotatable drum having a peripheral. portion formed to receive cigarettes in spaced relation with the cigarette axes parallel tothe axis of .said drum, of means delivering cigarettes to the peripheral-portion of said drum, a stripper pivotally supported for displacement from..-an inoperative position to an operative position to engage and strip cigarettes from said drum, :means yieldably urging saidstripper toward its "inoperative position, a first cam, means rotating said first cam in timed relation with said drum, a follower engaging said first cam and connected to said stripper to displace the latter into its operative position, a second cam, rotating said. second cam at .a speed which is a fraction of the speed of .said first cam, astop periodically-operable by said second cam to a position to engage and prevent movement of said. follower, whereby said stop prevents displacement .'of said .stripper to the-in.- operative position except during predetermined cycles of rotation of said drum. and a second I2 stripper positioned adiation-t :saidxirum and hehind said to rengageeand strip' fiom said-drum -.cigarettes not stripped-by said stripperi i I ;'3. in rapparatnszfor rose with :cig'arette mechines for weighing separate: cigarettes; the combination with .2, rotatsible-hrnmhaving a peripheral portion formed ;to massive cigarettes in spaced relation 'with :the cigaretteraxes "parallel towthe axis of said drum, of :means delivering cigarettes to thei'peripheralxportion of said-idrum, a stripper pivotally; sup orted for -:displacement from ant-inoperative position tanroperative position to engage and strip scigarettes: from said drum, means yieldahly urging: said stripper :toward fits inoperative position, a first cam, rotating said first. 'cam inftimed. relation with said .drnm', a follower :"engaging said first :cam and connected to said stripper to displace latter. .into :its :operative position a second cam; means rotating .said second oam a-speed which :is :a"fraction':o:f' ithe speed of "first cam; a stop zperiodicallyxoperalileby said second cam ate a positionqtmengage and :prevent ymovementor -said iollcwer, whereby "said stop prevents displacement :ol' isaid :stripper' to the inoperative' position exoept alluring predetermined cycleswotf rotation vof i said drum; -mnnually pper. able- ;means for retaining :said :sto'p in 'iollower engaging iposition :render said stripper contmnouslynperativa. :and .a second stripper posltioned :adiacent ssaid sdrum rand said first stripper to-zeng'agexand sstrip lfr'om saidtiimm cigarettes not stripped rby i said ilrst stripper;

.4. apparatus for-use with cigarette machines' .for weighing separate cigare'ttes the combination within.- .:rotatable drumhaving aperipheral .poriion' formed to :receive cigarettes in spaced relation with Zthe".- 'cigarette axes; parallel to the .aarism'af saidv drum, of means delivering cigarettes rtoithelperipheral portion of said' drum; aistripper pivotally :snppln'tecl for displacement from ;an :inoperativeqaosition to ram operativeapositio'n to engage and :strip' cigarettes from said drum, means yieldably .'urging .said stripper toward its inoperative position; ai=cam, means m-- tating .said. cam in timed/relation with-said drunn a .iollower engaging said cam-and eonnected to said stripper "to :disrflace the latter'into itsloperative'position, devices drivenin timed relation with ssaid drum to enga ge -and' prevent movement of" said follower' andstripper :during selectedtcycles of rotation- 0f said drum, "and a second. :stripper positioned adjacent said and behind saidifirst stripper to 'engage'and strip. from said .drum =cigarettesxnot stripped by said firststripper.

CYRIL BEST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the? file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 17119.47 

